c ~ CJ) :> >­ () c ro Z >­ .D C/) o .!:: 0.. by Francis Billie

The is at times one of the most ornamental member of the en­ tire Pheasant Family. Adult males can measure ix to even feet from the tip of the to the tip of the tail, although most of this length is taken up by their tail feather . In coloration the Argus is rather dull and plain, it is only during its marvelous courtship display that it manifest its great beauty and elaborate markings. There are two genera of Argus each containing two subspecies. In the genus Rehinartia there is Rheinart's Crested

Close-up feather detads of the Arj?us Pheasant.

Argus Pheasant, male photos by Francis Billie

Argus Pheasant, hen

38 Argus, (Rheinartia ocellata ocellata), back and forth and he vibrates his found in and parts of Laos, and so the ocelli appear to revolve. the Malay (Rheinartia During this display the male's head is hid­ ocellalla nigrescens) a rare, little known den from view. found in various parts of the Malay It is interesting to note that the Argus Peninsula. At present, the status of the display is not like that of the Peacock bird in Vietnam is unknown, but the in that the frontal display is not made with the tail feathers but is formed ,c F P r I Malayan subspecies has been observed in '{;HI \ t ') the wild state during a recent expedition in with the wings. It is also interesting that the f'PICrS & 81RUS the area. Argus' very specialized secondary wing The second genus is Argusianus which feathers are about twice as long as its Ll contains the Malay Great Argus (Argu­ primaries which is the reverse ofwhat is true siamlS argus argus) and the Bornean Great for the other pheasants. Argus don't reach Argus (Argusianus argus graYI). These breeding maturity until they are about three are found in the Malay Peninsula, years old but the young Argus can usually Sumatra, and Borneo. The Malay Argus be sexed since the unusually long secon­ is the only one that I have in my collection daries ofthe males begin to show at an early and it is the most impressive pheasant as age. The hens, of course, don't have the far as plumage, pattern, and courtship long secondaries. There is also some dif­ display are concerned. ferences in markings as the young males ac­ The Malay Argus male is five to six feet quire distinct patterns on the mantle and long of which four feet is tail. The bird has wings. The male Argus reaches sexual a black crown and a smallish crest, the maturity at three years of age but his nape and hind neck are covered with nar­ magnificent, ocillated wing secondaries will row blackish feathers, the body is get longer and longer after each molt up to predominately dark grayish brown dotted the age of six or seven years. with black and buff. The long feathers of Breeding Argus in captivity is not 804/542-5961 the upper wing coverts are a dark reddish­ necessarily easy but it is not too difficult brown marked with pale grayish-red. The either. When conditions are right the Argus CHARLOTTe (DUn IIUliSl secondary wing feathers are the Argus' will mateand the hen will lay a clutch oftwo most notable feature. They are far longer eggs. If left alone she will incubate the eggs than the primaries and are almost square­ and raise the babies with no fuss. She is a tipped; these feathers have a very intricate good mother. If the eggs are taken for ar­ pattern that includes a chain of large and tificial incubation, she will lay two or three beautiful ocelli (eyes) each being a mixture more clutches. Time ofincubation is about of purplish-brown shading into green, twenty-five to twenty-seven days. yellow and gray tints. Each ocellus is en­ Food is no problem for the Argus circled by black and buff and they are Pheasants as they will eat almost separated by buff areas marked with everything. They like fruit, berries, seeds, black. These large eyes or ocelli seem to and insects. I like to feed a good, commer­ produce a reflection but, in fact, do not as cial gamebird food, some meal worms, they have no metallic colors at all. The tail boiled egg, spanish peanuts - which my feathers are interesting also with the Argus dearly love - as well as fresh greens longest ones being black with shafts that and some fruit. are gray on the one side and reddish brown on the other. Both sides of the web [Editor's note: At the time our Gamebird 1J1ortuur are decorated with a white spot surround­ Editor, Francis Billie, wrote the above arti­ ed by a black edge. The hen Malay Argus cle, hehadan interesting lillIe housepet - a ~lru has a more simple plumage in dark brown baby Malay Great Argus. One egg was laid barred with chestnut and black. She has very late in the year so Mr. Billie incubated an area of naked skin on the neck and it alone in a small incubator in the house. i\uiarirs head, and a small crest. Her tail and wing When the lillIe fellow hatched, he adopted feathers are quite large but still within a Francis and Erma as parents. The baby normal range. Argusis aprecociouslilllefel/owandbythe SPECIAL INTEREST The courtship of the Malay Great age ofa week old couldfly up to roost on Argus is something to behold. I have had Francis' head. In fact, he tries to nestle . BREEDING· the pleasure of watching this display in my down in Francis' hair as he would amongst Buying' Selling own collection. As the hen approaches the his true mother'sfeathers. The chick wil/fly male, he drops his wings in a lateral offhis heady pearch, tour the living room Australian Hookbills display and goes past her. He then turns onfootandj7y back atop Mr. Billie's head. toward her, bows his head low and I hope the rare young pheasant doesn't (714) 744-4835 spreads his wings upward till the tips touch become addicted to television or become a 3141 N. TWIN OAKS VALLEY ROAD forming a huge funnel. The upper rather tasty snack for the resident dachshunds. SAN MARCOS, CA. 92069 than the under side of the wings are visible And, shouldyou meet Mr. Billie in the near to the hen and she can see the beautiful future, I hope you ignore the strange We buy and sell all types of birds. patterns of the rows of ocelli. His tail goes deposits sometimes seen in his hair. ed.}. 39